Written answers

Tuesday, 16 April 2019

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

National Seabird Census

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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581. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the 90% depletion of the herring gull species regularly quoted by her Department and various bird conservation groups is a statistic that was derived from analyses of censuses carried out in 1970, 1975 and 2000 and applied only to natural seaward and wetlands habitat; and if the national total of urban nesting herring gulls as published in the seabird 2000 census was 209 breeding pairs. [17247/19]

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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583. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is responsible for conducting censuses of wild birds; if the latest national seabird census commenced on schedule in view of the fact that it was due in 2015; if so, when it will be completed; and if and when the census will publish an up to date national total of urban nesting herring gulls for comparison with the Seabird 2000 national total of 209 urban nesting pairs. [17249/19]

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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584. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the national seabird census has not incorporated a national count of urban nesting seagulls; and her views on the absence of such quantitative information as having a priority determinant status in relation to availing of Article 9(1)(a) of the EU birds directive in the interest of public health and safety as would appear to be inferred in both the interim report of 18 April 2018 and the final report of 22 October 2018 from the Major Review of the Derogations Process by her Department (details supplied). [17250/19]

Photo of Josepha MadiganJosepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 581, 583 and 584 together.

Since the 1970s, specialists in the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department have worked with colleagues from the UK to co-ordinate censuses of breeding seabird populations. This work has resulted in several publications, most recently "Seabird Populations of Britain and Ireland" (Mitchell et al, 2004), which reported on the survey findings of Seabird 2000.

The Seabird 2000 project is a partnership between a number of bodies in Ireland and the UK, including the UK Government’s conservation agencies, RSPB, the Seabird Group, Shetland Oil Terminal Environmental Advisory Group (SOTEAG), BirdWatch Ireland and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The survey, largely conducted between 1998 and 2002, showed that the Herring gull population across the island of Ireland experienced a decline of almost 86% when compared with similar survey data from the mid-1980s. Furthermore, the Mitchell et al publication in 2004 stated that the establishment of Herring gull colonies on artificial surfaces, mainly roofs of buildings, had extended the distribution of the species since the first major seabird census conducted during the 1969 and 1970 breeding seasons. However, it was noted that this behaviour was very localised in Ireland and western Scotland. During the reporting period of Seabird 2000, some occurrences of Herring gulls nesting on artificial structures in Dublin were recorded but this were very low in the context of the overall breeding population in Ireland.

Work is now well underway on the next collaborative seabird census across Ireland and the UK with two further field seasons, this year and in 2020, planned to collect relevant data. The current initiative is called Seabirds Count.

In support of this, my Department has undertaken a series of surveys over the last four years and will soon be in a position to produce up to date national breeding population estimates for the majority of Ireland’s seabirds. A national report is due to be published later this year. The report will also include data from an urban gull survey conducted by Fingal County Council in 2018.

As the numbers of urban nesting gulls have increased at various locations in Ireland in recent years, it is important to ensure appropriate provision is made to quantify this in proportion to the overall breeding population. Further survey work to target Irish urban gulls is planned for the final year of the Seabirds Count census window in 2020.

The EU Birds Directive allows Member States to make derogations from its protective measures in respect of certain wild bird species in certain circumstances – for example, where they are causing damage to crops, livestock and fauna or represent a threat to public health or safety or to air safety. The Declarations to implement these derogations are renewed annually and an annual review of the Declarations is undertaken prior to their expiry.

My Department completed a review of the derogation process under Article 9 of the EU Birds Directive which took account of all relevant factors, including perceived threats, distribution and population data available in respect of all the bird species in the derogations. ANIAR Ecology was appointed by my Department to undertake the review following a public tendering process.  Their report was published in October 2018 and is available on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department at www.npws.ie.

The consultants on their report made a number of recommendations in relation to seagulls including the setting up of a group to agree a programme of action in relation to the seagull situation in the certain urban areas. I have agreed to the formation of a Consultative Committee, with an independent chair, whose membership will include representatives of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department, Fingal County Council, local community representatives and a conservation group.  My Department is finalising the composition of the Committee with a view to convening the first meeting of the Committee shortly.

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